CSU Fullerton: Surviving (and thriving) at a commuter school.

[MartaToms]

I go to CSU Fullerton, and yeah, it's a commuter school. Everyone says that like it's a bad thing. It's different, for sure. But it's not impossible to have a good college experience here—you just have to work for it.

The reality:

• Most people drive to campus, go to class, and drive home.
• The parking situation is genuinely terrible. Like, arrive an hour early terrible.
• It's easy to feel isolated if you don't make an effort.

But here's how to actually have a social life:

• Join something. Literally anything. A club, an intramural sport, a study group. The people who complain about no friends are the ones who go home immediately after class.
• Live near campus if you can. Even if you commute from home, try to spend time on campus between classes. Hang out in the quad. Go to events.
• Use the commute. I listen to audiobooks and podcasts for my classes. It's not wasted time if you're learning.
• Weekends are for homework. Since everyone scatters, you get a lot done. Then your weekdays can be for social stuff.

CSUF has good programs (business and communications are huge), diverse students, and it's affordable. Just don't expect the dorms-and-football experience. You have to build your own community.

Any other Titans here? How do you make it work?

 

[LaraMarnie]

The "weekends are for homework" point is underrated. My friends at residential schools are always trying to do homework on weeknights but there's too much going on. Here, I grind on weekends and actually have weeknights free for social stuff or just relaxing. Different rhythm but it works.

Also, the diversity at CSUF is real. So many backgrounds, so many perspectives. I've learned as much from classmates as from professors. That's something you don't always get at more homogeneous schools.